Chapter 100: The Scammer

From Xu Bing's gossip, Li Xian learned that Wang Tiecheng, who seemed to be over forty, was actually only thirty-eight this year, with a wife five years younger and a ten-year-old son. Although he worked at the forest camp, his home was with the Forestry Bureau, so he could only return home once or twice a month. The prolonged separation had led to a cold relationship between him and his wife.

In fact, his wife's disappearance was discovered by neighbors who saw the door plastered with chalked notices of overdue utility bills. After days of knocking with no response, they called the forest camp.

Wang Tiecheng didn't care much about his wife leaving, but his son was like his lifeline. Wang Tiecheng had frantically searched for over a week, only learning from his wife's family that she had gone to Guanzhong.

In this situation, Wang Tiecheng had approached Xu Bing, who was struggling with timber stuck at the Red Flag checkpoint, and offered two thousand yuan as a bribe to help him. Xu Bing, unsure about the matter, brought Wang Tiecheng to Li Xian for a decision.

After hearing this, Li Xian couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

He took a cigarette from Xu Bing and walked over to Wang Tiecheng, who had just finished unloading and was wiping sweat beside the truck.

Wang Tiecheng hesitated before accepting the cigarette Li Xian offered, pushing away the lighter and lighting it with a match from his pocket. He grumbled, "What's up?"

Li Xian squatted down in front of him, "Brother Wang, if you're in a hurry to go to Guanzhong, I can lend you the money first."

Wang Tiecheng looked up at Li Xian. His dead eyes briefly lit up but quickly dimmed again. "I can't repay it. I don't know when I'll be back, and I can't owe this favor."

Seeing the resolve and stubbornness on his face, Li Xian shook his head. He thought, with such a stubborn mindset, if I were your wife, I'd have left too.

From the conversation with Xu Bing, Li Xian learned that Wang Tiecheng was originally from the Forestry Public Security Bureau, responsible for dealing with poaching and illegal logging. Although he had been demoted to the forest camp after making mistakes, he was well-acquainted with all aspects of the timber transport network and had a fearsome reputation.

Wang Tiecheng had dealt with nearly all the timber traffickers, making everyone wary of him. He was a living example of the "Enforcer of the Forest Bureau."

Seeing Wang Tiecheng's stubbornness, Li Xian decided not to persuade him further. He promised a reward of three thousand yuan if the timber was transported smoothly through the winter and then left.

After discussing the next steps with Xu Bing, Li Xian saw a figure in a coat rushing down from the second floor.

Seeing the empty coat, he smiled slightly.

After giving Xu Bing cash to ensure the timber unloading was completed and everyone had a good meal, he quietly followed the figure.

Although Wang Tiecheng had dealt with the troublemakers, Li Xian was still concerned that they might retaliate against Su Ya.

...

It was nearing eight o'clock, and with no street lights in the Forestry Bureau area, most people had gone to bed. Fortunately, a crescent moon was barely visible through the clouds, providing some dim light.

Li Xian, standing by the wall with the slogan "A Couple and a Child, More Children Need Contraception" painted on it, shivered involuntarily.

The deserted road was eerily quiet, with only the occasional sound of snow falling from pine trees and scattered dog barks.

The scene made even the seasoned Li Xian feel uneasy.

Ahead, Su Ya seemed even more frightened, her footsteps quick and nervous in the snow.

Su Ya's home was quite far from the factory. Li Xian followed her for over half an hour but still saw no sign of her reaching home. He began to feel something was off.

When they entered an alley, Li Xian stopped, recognizing the familiar power poles and houses. He wondered, "Have I been here before?"

Unnoticed in the darkness, a shadow was quietly approaching.

"Woo!"

As he pondered, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head.

In that moment, everything in his mind turned into a mush, as if trying to escape through his nose. Everything around him blurred, and as he fell to the ground, he glimpsed a sign on the wall reading "Jiangmiao Street."

The old man's warning echoed in his dazed mind: "Grandson, don't go near water in the next year!"

Damn, I should have avoided water, but who would have thought...

In his hazy state, Li Xian cursed inwardly.

After he lay sprawled on the ground, a small figure behind him emitted a silent cry, dropping the firewood with a clatter.

The figure hesitated for a moment, then knelt beside Li Xian. After checking his breathing, the figure opened its mouth, letting out a hoarse shout that was soon swallowed by the wind.

The figure sobbed urgently, grabbing Li Xian's collar and laboriously dragging him onto its back, making its way deeper into the alley.

...

Li Xian felt as though he was trapped in a quagmire, his whole body weighed down by tons of mud, making it hard to breathe.

It was as if he was in a swift river, struggling to float. He tried to move his arms but felt as though they were weighed down by lead.

A little demon seemed to be whispering deathly words in his ear, making him more agitated.

Splash!

With the sound of water, his face felt a sudden chill, and he regained some consciousness.

Slowly opening his eyes, he saw a small face.

Su Ya's face!

Her face was filled with panic, her black hair damp and sticking to her face due to excessive sweating, which was trembling slightly with tension.

He finally understood why his senses were so distorted. This foolish girl was sitting on him with a chipped white enamel mug, crushing him and making it hard to breathe.

She was crying and her sweat dripped onto his face and mouth, tasting a bit salty.

"Can you... get off?" Li Xian finally felt the intense pain in his head, hissing as he spoke.

Startled by his voice, Su Ya jumped off him like a frightened squirrel and hid by the bed.

Li Xian took the opportunity to look around. He was in a small, shabby room with yellowed newspapers on the walls, some of which were cracked. The window was covered with a thick, tattered cotton quilt, and the ceiling, likely leaking, was covered with plastic.

The room was dark, and cool air seeped through the walls.

Seeing Su Ya shivering in the corner, staring at him with darting eyes, Li Xian frowned.

"You were the one who hit me earlier, right?"

Su Ya hesitated, nervously nodded, and repeatedly waved her hands over her chest, indicating it was unintentional.

Li Xian sighed, thinking about the absurdity of the situation.

He nearly lost his life trying to help, and if he had actually died, how would he face his prematurely deceased elder uncle?

"Little sister, you hit pretty hard!"

He rubbed the large bump on the back of his head, wincing in pain.

Then... he flopped onto the bed, "I'm too injured to move. Yeah, definitely not going anywhere tonight!"